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CNN Live Today

Congress Convenes in NYC Next Hour

Aired September 06, 2002 - 10:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Up first on CNN: a crossroads of history, at the heart of lower Manhattan. Congress meets there next hour in a historic session that pays tribute to the past and the future, the tragic and the triumphant.
Our congressional correspondent Kate Snow sets the stage.

Kate, it's kind of a trip back home in some ways for Congress.

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is. We know that congress first met here, a bit of historical trivia, at Federal Hall, which is the building right me, in 1789. They met here from 1789 until 1790, and then they went down to Philadelphia, and then of course eventually ended up in Washington D.C.

The message that they're trying to send here this morning, Daryn, America is behind New York, and Congress is behind the people of New York, and has not forgotten, and also that they are united. It is a bipartisan event, that they are united in their support. about half of Congress made the trip here. They he took a train earlier this morning. They arrived in New York City. That train a special Amtrak train from Union Station in Washington, and it arrived at Penn Station here in New York.

They will come here to Federal Hall for about an hour. This is where George Washington took the oath of office. They are going to start the session, a historic session at about 11:00 a.m. this morning. They said it lasts about an hour. The event will feature a resolution they already voted on down in Washington, a resolution honoring the victims of the attacks of 9-11, and talking about the heroism of the rescue workers and those who helped in the aftermath of those attacks.

Also speeches expected by the speaker of the House, the leaders of the House, and the Senate leaders, and also Vice President Dick Cheney will be here.

At 12:45, they will be walking from here, just a short distance away to a lunch at the Regents Hotel being sponsored by the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg.

And then at 2:30, they go to a congressional replaying ceremony at Ground Zero. That, we are told, will be a very somber moment. It won't last very long, but it will be a very quiet, solemn occasion, where they lay a wreath at ground zero.

And security, as you might imagine, is very tight here, Daryn. We are just about four blocks away from the site of ground zero, and earlier this morning on "AMERICAN MORNING," speaker Dennis Hastert was asked about the prospect of another attack on America.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I am concerned. I think that the bottom line is we are here to commemorate the bravery of the people of New York. We just don't want to see this thing happen again to the people of the United States. And I think we need to be very careful. I think we need to follow the leadership of the president. If he thinks there is a concern, he needs to make that case to the American people and Congress, and he will. But we need to take every precaution that we can so this does not happen again in this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Most of the members that I've talked to, Daryn, are very excited about being here, although it will be a very solemn occasion. They are glad to be here in New York. Half of the members of Congress roughly are here. The other half, many have logistical problems, many of them have scheduling problems.

There was one member, though, Daryn, who voiced some concern about coming here to New York, Senator Bob Byrd, has often got views that aren't not keeping with everyone else. He is often very vocal about his views. He told a reporter he thought it was just essentially a waste of time coming to New York. He said, we already expressed our sorrow, what more can we do?

Early we asked Hillary Clinton about that, Senator Clinton, and she said, you know, there is something to be said for symbolism. The flag is a symbol of America, she said. Today we are here in New York as a symbol of our support -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And, Kate, of course there will be some symbolic measures taken care of, but will actually any business be taken care of during the session?

SNOW: No, it's not really for that. They are not going to come up here and debate the homeland security bill or anything like that. In fact, all they will do is vote -- not even vote, but present the resolution that they've already voted on, which I mentioned is in support of the people of New York. It mentions the victims of 9-11 and the heroic actions of those who did search and rescue here in New York, and aside from that, it will be a lot of pomp and circumstance.

But again, Senator Clinton making the point that that's what it's all about. They want to be here to show their solidarity and to show they haven't forgotten the people of New York.

KAGAN: Kate Snow, where we usually say on Capitol Hill. She is in New York City this morning. We will be checking in with you again this morning.

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